Peris choice extremely positive: Albanese

INDIGENOUS ALP members in the Northern Territory plan to flood Labor's national executive with Senate nominations in protest at the expected preselection of Nova Peris, but government frontbencher Anthony Albanese says the Olympic gold medallist is a sound choice.

NT Labor Senate preselection candidate Marion Scrymgour says the nominations should be seen as an objection to Prime Minister Julia Gillard's intervention in the preselection process last week.

Ms Gillard chose Ms Peris as her "captain's pick" on the NT Senate ticket - a move that will almost certainly unseat the ALP's current NT senator, Trish Crossin.

The national executive, including Mr Albanese, will decide representation on the NT ticket in a vote on Tuesday, effectively shutting out rank-and-file members from the decision-making process.

Mr Albanese said the election of Nova Peris "will be extremely positive".

"And it is something that I am sure will be endorsed tomorrow by the majority of the national executive," he told ABC TV on Monday.

"It is the case that we haven't had an indigenous representative in the federal parliament representing Labor, and there has never been an indigenous woman elected ... it is time this occurred."

He sidestepped questions as to why the ALP sought Ms Peris from outside the party, when the NT branch had indigenous women members.

"These issues are always difficult," he said.

Earlier, Ms Scrymgour said Aboriginal members in the NT intended to protest with a "flood" of applications.

"Applications are going to be sent to the national executive before the deadline today by Aboriginal members of the ALP," Ms Scrymgour said.

"The move is a protest and a signal to the national executive and prime minister that we don't accept what she has done."

Ms Scrymgour said she knew her own application was futile but will send it anyway.

"It has made me cranky and insulted that she (Ms Gillard) could think that all Aboriginal people need is a sport star," she said.

If Ms Gillard wanted a "black face" in parliament there were plenty of choices in the party, she said.

Aboriginal ALP member from Alice Springs, Des Rogers, told ABC radio he would join the protest by nominating for the preselection ballot.

"Just to let people know in Canberra that for one, there is one indigenous person in the Territory that's been a long-term Labor member, has campaign experience, and I've nominated," he said.

Another prominent indigenous ALP politician in the NT, Karl Hampton, has also signalled he will lodge an application.

Senator Crossin, who says she was not consulted about the decision that would dump her, is expected to make a statement after the national executive meeting.

A spokesman for Ms Peris said she was hopeful she will get the preselection and was looking forward to the challenge.

Ms Peris will also make a statement in Darwin after the preselection announcement.

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